Two days in Krakow - yay or nay?
 

SInce I am travelling to some Central European destinations I am considering to add Krakow to my upcoming trip, the catch, only for two days. I have no interest in visiting Auschwitz. I am interested in the salt mines, churches, synagogues,old town and historic sights. Are these sights in Krakow doable in two days?

Thanks.

The historic center of Krakow is compact so you can see quite a bit in 2 days if you plan well.

The Salt Mine is one of the few sights that opens early and stays open late. I would advise getting there early to maximize the rest of your day. You'll probably have fewer people at the salt mine in the early morning. When I went there were large crowds so there was quite a lot of waiting time to get into the mine, into rooms, and the elevator back up.

Another place where I got hung up for time was at Wawel but another poster on my trip report said she went to Wawel with a tour and they saw more than I did in the same amount of time.

Choose your sights and note the opening times (such as the late opening for the altar at the basilica and late opening on weekends for Wawel).

I very much enjoyed Krakow and want to return soon.

You will absolutely love Krakow. Go the Wawel early one day and the salt mines early the next. One of favorite restaurants is Pod Angelica (sp??). There are two great musuems--Majeko home and the Nationa museum (Lady with Ermine painting). Plus just the plaza itself. We have been many times and always found something new to see--Madame Curie Museum--Hotel Copernicus. Hope you enjoy it!!

The Leonardo is being moved to the Cloth Hall during the renovation of the Czartoryski Museum which is due to reopen in 2012.

Yah, yah, yah! Just read Adrienne's comprehensive report and you will know you cannot miss Krakow!

Yay - http://www.inyourpocket.com/data/dow...tant-guide.pdf

In Krakow, the place of those that might interest you are synagogues of Kazimierz district, the Museum of Underground on the Market Square, Old Town. Im not sure that you will have enough time for it and Salt Mine , but it is worth to see because Krakow is amazing.

Another "Yes" vote. It's a compact place and easily walkable. It feels great and the square at night is good for eating, drinking and people watching.

I though, that you might be interested in Fabryka Schindlera or for example Muzeum Etnograficzne. A place worth to be seen.

Krakow is amazing and you will bite your, errrm, rear end for not having more time.

Yet another vote for Krakow. I love the feel, the layout, the look of the city. The central square is a great place to hang out, people-watch, and wait for the guy to play the trumpet every hour.

Hopefully you're still looking at this thread. I'm going back to Krakow this fall and have booked a private guide for a day to see the Jewish Quarter (synagogues, churches, Schindler factory), Franciscan church, and cloth hall museums. I think this is going to maximize our time and we'll get some good information that is not easily available in guide books.

I can't wait to go back to Krakow and I keep finding more things to visit there.

Only „yes” votes. But it’s not an astonishment for me. Krakow is great and everyone will find something for himself :)

If you only have two days, make sure you choose the days carefully. Most museums and sights are closed on Mondays, and on Sundays most churches can only be visited in the afternoon because of many services (and they are very well attended). You should not sightsee during Masses, and you probably find it physically impossible as many people are standing or kneeling in the aisles. Two days midweek will be best.

It’s truth, not everything is open in Mondays but for example Underground Museum is free of charge in Mondays so if justhootme will be in Krakow in this time, he will have a lot to see.

Also Oskar Schindler's Factory, now an excellent museum of Krakow under the Nazis, is free on Mondays (but closed on first Monday every month). You need to get a (free) ticket from the museum shop, which is timed. Closes at 2 pm, so you need to get there early (before 11 am or so). We had absorbing few hours there last month.

It’s looks like that you can also sightsee Krakow in Mondays, and also for free. Besides, even if it misses the interesting museum opening hours, you can always visit other historical places in Krakow.